Neck for banjos or the like.



0. SCHMIDT.

NECK FOR BANJOS OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.11,1911.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH c0.,wAsl-nN0'rON, n. c.

Patented May 20, 1913.

I I Osmmfawzdf 1 ATTORNEYS 0. SCHMIDT.

. Patented May 20, 1913;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 21 ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA FMNOGRAPH c0., WASI'IINUTON, D c.

OSCAR SCHMIDT, 0F JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

NECK FOR BANJOS 03 THE LILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

IBatented May 2th, 1913.

Application filed January 11, 1911. Serial no. eoaere.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Oscar. SCHMIDT, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Neck for Banjos and the Like, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription. The invention relates to banjos and similar musical instruments, and its object is to provide a new and improved fastening device, more especially designed for securely and quickly fastening the rim to the neck of the instrument.

For the purpose mentioned, use is made of a wedge made approximately U-shape and straddling an extension of the neck and engaging the rim, so as to force the latter in firm contact with the end of the neck on driving the wedge home.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective view of the improvement as applied to a banjo shown in inverted position; Fig 2 is an enlarged inverted plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the same; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the neck and its extension; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the wedge; Fig. 7 is aperspective view of a modified form of the fastening device as applied; Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation of the same; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the modified form of wedge shown in Figs. 7 and 8; and Fig. 10 is a similar view of the guideway for the modified form shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

The rim A of the banjo or a like musical instrument, is provided with a polygonal aperture A, for the passage of a reduced extension B, projecting from the inner end B of the neck B of the instrument, and the said rim A is forced against the end B of the neck B and securely held in place thereon by a wedge G, interposed and movable between a guideway D and the inner surface of the rim A, so that when the wedge C is driven home then the rim A is forced firmly in place against the end B of the neck B. The wedge shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, consists of spaced side arms C, connected with each other by a cross bar 0 and the said side bars w are provided with inwardly-extending flanges C (see Fig. 6), fitting into the guideway D, which in this case is in the form of inclined grooves formed in the sides of the extension B, as plainly shown in Fig. 5. il/ hen the wedge G is driven in place with the flanges C in engagement with the .guideway D, then the lat face of the wedge abuts against the inner surface of the rim A and then moves the same in firm contact with the end B of the neck B, thus fastening the rim in place on the neck B. It is understood that the side arms C of the wedge G straddle the extension B of the neck B, and the cross bar C of the wedge C is provided with an aperture C for engagement by a screw E engaging the extension B, in an aperture B thereof, to fasten the wedge C securely in place after the rim A is fastened to the neck B by the wedge C, as above explaned.

The guideway for the wedge to slide in may be in the form of a wedge F, as shown in Figs. 7 8, and 10, and this wedge F is provided with wedge-shaped side arms F, connected with each other by a cross bar F adapted to extend across the extension B when the device is in use, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The wedge G in this case is provided with side arms G, connected with each other by a cross bar .72, having an elongated aperture G for the passage of the screw E, which extends through the extension B and screws in a tapped opening F formed in the cross bar F of the guideway F. Thus the guideway F is held in position. on the dowel pin B, and when the wedge C is driven home it slides on the side arms F and engages with its flat face the inner surface of the rim A, to force the latter up against the end B of the neck B, to securely fasten the rim in position on the neck.

The fastening device shown and described is very simple and durable in construction, and can be readily applied to firmly fasten the rim A and the neck B of the musical instrument together.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A banjo, comprising an apertured rim, a neck having a shoulder engaging the outer face of the rim and an extension projecting through the aperture of said rim, an inclined guideway on each side of the extension of the neck adjacent to the said shoulder, a wedge formed of side arms and an apertured connecting cross bar, said wedge straddling the extension of the neck and engaging the guideway and the inner face of the rim, and a screw passing through the aperture of the cross bar into the eX- tension.

2. A banjo, comprising an apertured riIn, a neck having a shoulder engaging the outer face of the rim and an extension projecting through the aperture of said rim and provided with an inclined groove in each side adjacent to the shoulder, a wedge formed of spaced arms having inwardly extending flanges and a connecting cross bar provided with an opening, said wedge straddling the extension of the neck with its flanges in the said grooves, and a screw passing through the aperture of the cross bar of the wedge into the extension.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OSCAR SCHMIDT.

Witnesses Tnno. G. Hosrnn, PHILIP D. RoLLI-IAUs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patent:

Washington, D. C. 

